There has been a big question about India's security policy for a long time. The question is who is India's biggest enemy? Pakistan, which has been known for terrorism and cross-border attacks for years. Or China, which is constantly increasing its military and nuclear power and is in conflict with India on many fronts? The answer to this question has now become clear from the latest 'World Threat Assessment' report of the US intelligence agency Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).

According to this report, India no longer sees Pakistan as a main threat but as a 'manageable security challenge'. At the same time, China has been described as India's 'biggest challenge', due to which the real focus of India's security strategy is now revolving around China.

The report also says that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's defense policy is focused on three important points - strengthening global leadership, countering China's influence and modernizing India's military capabilities. It also said that there were limited clashes between the armies of India and Pakistan in mid-May, but Pakistan is still considered a small-scale problem now.

Even though Pakistan considers India an 'existential threat' and is rapidly modernizing its nuclear weapon system, India is in a much more powerful position than it. Pakistan's nuclear strategy mentions short-range missiles like 'Nasr', which are used as a counter to India's conventional military power. Despite this, India no longer considers Pakistan a big strategic challenge that it needs to fight on every front.

The report also reveals that China has played a major role in strengthening Pakistan's nuclear and missile capabilities. China has long helped Pakistan and North Korea in providing ballistic missiles and nuclear technology. China not only remains Pakistan's economic and strategic partner, but Pakistan's army also conducts several joint military exercises with China's army every year.DIA says that Pakistan acquires the technology and material required for its Weapon of Mass Destruction program from China directly or through countries like Hong Kong, Turkey, UAE.

Talking about China, its nuclear arsenal has now reached more than 600 operational warheads and this number is likely to exceed 1000 by 2030. At the same time, China is deploying these weapons at a higher readiness, so that an immediate counter-attack can be launched if needed. Keeping this threat in mind, India is also making huge changes in its security policy. India has recently successfully completed its two major missile tests - Agni-1 Prime and Agni-V MIRV (in which multiple warheads can be installed on a single missile). Along with this, a second nuclear submarine named INS Arighat has also been inducted, which has further strengthened India's nuclear triad.

India's focus is now on strengthening its role in the strategically important Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean region. It is expanding bilateral, trilateral and quadrilateral partnerships with countries like the US, Japan and Australia. Through measures such as military exercises, arms sales, training and intelligence sharing, India is trying to balance China's growing influence. It is also increasing its defense production capacity under 'Make in India' so that it can become self-reliant and avoid any disruption in the global military supply chain.

However, the border dispute between China and India is still not fully resolved. The report mentions the withdrawal of troops in the Depsang and Demchok areas of Ladakh in 2023, but it is believed that this has only reduced the tension to some extent, the actual dispute still remains. India's attitude towards China has become more cautious and aggressive since the Galwan conflict of 2020.

Thus, it is clear that India's security strategy is now more focused on China than Pakistan. While Pakistan is still known for cross-border terror and sporadic attacks, China has emerged as a major, systematic and multi-dimensional threat - be it nuclear power, border disputes, strategic expansionism or global power balance.

In such a situation, it can be said that India's number one enemy is now China, and this is not only visible in the thinking of Indian strategists, but the report of the American intelligence agency also clearly confirms this.